38 Onam Pookalam Designs To Adorn Your Homes This Onam 2018

Onam, the festival of harvest, brings with it truck loads of good cheer and prosperity. Besides being the biggest shopping season in Kerala, bonding with family and friends, trying out various delicious traditional recipes, dolling up in the ever classic white and gold fashion, and of course, spreading loads and loads of happiness, smiles and love, is what makes this festival all the more special.

This day brings out the best in every Malayalee woman. Not only is she dressed in the traditional kasavu saree, looking all gorgeous and lady-like, but also shows off her creative skills in the form of Onam pookalam designs (flower rangolis). She gathers all the auntyjis, mummyjis and cousins, and they sit to sort flowers and lay out beautiful pookalam designs and patterns, over some hot, juicy gossip, having some good ol’ girlie fun.

5. However, the most important of all flowers is Thumba, reason being their small size and their glittery nature in the sun.

6. It is believed that the ‘Thumba Poo‘ is Lord Shiva’s favorite flower and King Mahabali was a big worshipper of Lord Shiva.

7. Idols of Vishnu and Mahabali are placed in the centre of the floral rangoli aka pookalam, and worshiped.

8. The harvest festival is celebrated with great fanfare in Malayali homes. And pookalam preserves the traditional values of Kerala.

9. Malayalis believe that King Mahabali’s soul visits every home in the state during these ten days of Onam, and on seeing beautiful pookolams greet him, he ensures that prosperity and happiness fill the people in that home.

10. ‘Pookolam’ is broken down into two words; ‘poov’ which means flower and ‘kalam’ meaning colour designs on the floor.

11. Decorating ones home with onam pookalam designs is considered auspicious.

12. Flower rangoli designs or pookolam totally depends on the team’s creative ability based on which it can be simple or intricate.

13. How to make pookolam designs? First the floor is nicely cleaned, followed by spreading cow dung over the washed area where the floral design is to be spread.

14. To make Pookolam, first a circular shaped design is created, and then filled with multi-tiered colourful flowers, petals and leaves arrangement.

15. Pookolam rangoli designs are usually created in ten rings, each ring representing deities in the Hindu pantheon.